Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders And Exhibitors Association

TWHNC backed, concern shown (05/24/12)
National media reports regarding the training practices of trainer Jackie McConnell have played a role in influencing local public perception of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. This week the Times-Gazette has invited public comment from readers, called upon local business people and solicited information in an online poll. Here's what they have shared...

Celebration punishes McConnell (05/23/12)
The Celebration Board of Directors took decisive action Tuesday afternoon, condemning the actions of walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges related to the conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act. The Celebration Board voted Tuesday to suspend McConnell for life from entering the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds for any and all events, regardless of the event's affiliation or ownership...

Hansen ordered to pay $150K, monthly child support (05/18/12)
A former Shelbyville woman who sent her adopted son back to Moscow two years ago was ordered Thursday to make monthly child support payments and pay damages in the case. Torry Hansen was ordered by Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell to pay damages of $150,206 for breach of contract, legal fees and back child support for Artyom Saveliev, plus an additional $1,000 per month of child support starting June 1 until he turns 18...

TWH industry reacts to video (05/17/12)
An ABC Nightline news investigation aired video Wednesday evening showing abuse inflicted by a legendary Tennessee walking horse trainer. Consequences of that video included Pepsi-Cola withdrawing from their select sponsorship of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration...

Giant steps...one at a time (05/13/12)
It's an unfortunate, but true realization. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't been affected by cancer in some way. It's the great equalizer that can bring anyone to their knees. But, it also can show how strong a person is, and how great the community around them can rally when called upon...

McConnell changes plea in HPA case (05/11/12)
A Tennessee Walking Horse trainer charged with violations of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) announced Tuesday his intention to plead guilty to one of the charges. In a notice filed in federal court, Jackie L. McConnell, 60, stated he intends to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate the HPA...

Harris horse show funds benefit athletic programs (05/11/12)
The Harris Middle School Athletic Department launched fundraising efforts for school programs last weekend at the Walking with Eagle Pride Horse Show. Coordinated by Allison Smith, Dana Edwards and the HMS faculty, proceeds from the event are earmarked for various needs in the school's athletic department...

McConnell changes plea in HPA case (05/10/12)
A Tennessee Walking Horse trainer charged with violations of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) announced Tuesday his intention to plead guilty to one of the charges. In a notice filed in federal court, Jackie L. McConnell, 60, stated he intends to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate the HPA...

Fire school graduation Friday (05/10/12)
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak will deliver the commencement address to the recruit firefighter class 9 a.m. Friday at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road. As TDCI Commissioner, McPeak also is the State Fire Marshal...

State commissioner visits Vietnam vets (05/08/12)
More than 60 attended this month's Vietnam Era Veterans meeting at the American Legion Center. Many-Bears Grinder, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, was guest speaker. Grinder, who spent 35 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard, comes from a long line of military servitude. ...

Celebrating changes: New boxes in south turn (04/27/12)
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is renovating the upper tier of boxes on the south end of the outdoor arena, in a $500,000 project which CEO Doyle Meadows says will enhance safety and the fan experience. The lower level of boxes, at ringside, are built on concrete slabs and are in good shape, as are the general admission grandstands at the top of the south end. The renovation project focuses on the upper rows of boxes -- I, J, K and L -- on the south end...

Aging Highway 130 bridge nears replacement date (04/24/12)
Nearly $4 million worth of bridge replacement work will begin later this year over the Duck River, with another important safety project kicking off this week. State Sen. Jim Tracy informed the city of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's current project status list, which shows that bids for the Sydney "Bud" McGrew Memorial Bridge over Duck River on State Highway 130 were recently awarded to Concrete Structures, Inc., at a price of $3,821,199.68...

TCAP week challenges students (04/22/12)
It's TCAP week in Tennessee, and local students will begin participating in the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program on Tuesday morning. "The end of year TCAP tests are very important and allow teachers to identify learning gaps and also areas of strength for each individual student," said Janice Womble, secondary instruction supervisor. "This data can also be used to project student academic success as they move through the grades."...

Down...but not out: Connie Bobo slowed but not stopped by disease (04/22/12)
With the busy lifestyles of today, it's easy to take things for granted. Each day we wake up, go about our business as best we can and hope for a few smiles along the way. For most folks, worrying about illness and infection is a seasonal thing that might reserve a place in the back of your mind. For those affected by primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDD), however, this is a daily concern that cannot be taken lightly...

Legacy of learning (04/18/12)
A longtime colleague of beloved MTSU education professor Robert "Dr. Bob" Womack is confident. "They say 'there'll always be an England,'" said the College of Education's other "Dr. Bob," Professor Emeritus Robert "Bob" Bullen. "Well, at MTSU, we say there'll always be a Womack."...

Celebration differs with T-G article (04/12/12)
The Celebration Board of Directors and staff take exception to the article in the March 6 edition entitled "Much Soring Alleged" by Brian Mosely. It is a one sided advertorial for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Keith Dane causing serious harm to The Celebration and walking horse industry....

TWH leaders hit 'renegades' at listening session (04/05/12)
MURFREESBORO -- USDA officials urged Tennessee Walking Horse organizations Wednesday to unite and speak with one voice, while those in the local equine industry were equally united in opposing a proposed ban on pads and "action devices." Officials from the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Animal Care Program held a three-hour listening session at the Doubletree Hotel to hear feedback from walking horse trainers and owners...

State grant boosts airport (04/04/12)
Shelbyville's airport has received a $45,000 aeronautics grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for grounds maintenance equipment. The grant, which will be combined with a $15,000 local match, was recommended earlier this week through the Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics...

WHTA preparing a new initiative (03/29/12)
From a press release: The Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) serves the best interest of its members and remains committed to protecting the welfare of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Since the passage of the Horse Protection Act and introduction of the Horse Industry Organization (HIO) program by the USDA, the WHTA has strongly supported inspections at affiliated shows...

McConnell out on bond; training limited (03/27/12)
Walking Horse trainer Jackie McConnell of Collierville will remain free on bond but will not be allowed to train any horses he doesn't own. McConnell and three associates have been charged with conspiracy to violate the Horse Protection Act by transporting and showing horses they knew to be "sored" and also falsifying entry forms and paperwork. Earlier this month, agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture raided McConnell's Whitter Stables in west Tennessee, taking eight of 28 horses...

Report cites 'substances' (03/23/12)
Data released this week from the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) shows that every horse randomly sampled at last year's Celebration tested positive for illegal substances. A local industry veterinarian, however, said Thursday the substances revealed by the swab test samples (results of those tests were only recently published) are already deemed illegal under the Horse Protection Act...

May trial set for McConnell, co-defendants (03/18/12)
A May trial date has been set for a prominent walking horse trainer and three others accused in a horse soring conspiracy. Jackie McConnell, 60, along with Jeff Dockery, 56; John Mays, 47; and Joseph Abernathy, 29, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Carter in Chattanooga for arraignment and to hear their conditions for bond...

Hansen must pay child support (03/07/12)
LYNCHBURG -- Torry Hansen has lost the child support lawsuit filed against her after refusing to appear in person. Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell granted a motion for default judgment against the former Shelbyville resident, who had been ordered to appear in Lynchburg on Wednesday morning...

Much soring alleged (03/06/12)
An undercover investigation into animal abuse in the Walking Horse industry is only "the tip of the iceberg," a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) told the T-G. Late last week, a 52-count federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to sore horses was unsealed against prominent trainer Jackie L. McConnell, 60, along with employees Jeff Dockery, 54, John Mays, 50, all from Collierville, and Joseph R. Abernathy, 30, of Olive Branch, Miss...

Top trainer accused of soring horses (03/02/12)
A prominent Walking Horse trainer and three others were arrested Thursday and charged in a 52-count federal indictment with violations of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). Jackie L. McConnell, 60, Jeff Dockery, 54, John Mays, 50, all from Collierville, and Joseph R. Abernathy, 30, of Olive Branch, Miss., were charged with conspiracy to violate the protection act by transporting and showing horses they knew to be "sored" and also falsifying entry forms and paperwork...

SHOW says inspection leads to criminal prosecution (03/01/12)
The successful prosecution of Spotted Saddle Horse trainer Barney Davis is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the Walking Horse industry's commitment to enforcing the Horse Protection Act, according to a press release issued by the Sound Horses, Honest Judging, Objective Inspections and Winning Fairly (SHOW) organization...

USDA plans discussion over horses (02/29/12)
The USDA will hold a "listening session" in Murfreesboro in April to get public feedback on a number of issues concerning the walking horse industry. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Animal Care Program of the USDA will hold the session on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doubletree Murfreesboro Hotel at 1850 Old Fort Parkway...

Horse show funding request rescinded (02/28/12)
Funding requests for two upcoming horse shows to Shelbyville's council have been rescinded -- due to one moving elsewhere and the other acquiring the needed money.... For the complete story, see the print edition of today's Times-Gazette.

Celebration $1.5K plea reappears (02/22/12)
A proposal to give $1,500 to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration to help it recruit a quarter horse show will be back on the agenda of Bedford County Board of Commissioners next month. Last week, the commission failed to approve the allocation; it got 8 votes in favor, with one opposed, six abstaining and three absent. The commission's rules require a majority of the full commission -- 10 votes -- to pass a motion, regardless of how many are in attendance...

State's top trooper survives gunshot (02/21/12)
Tennessee's Trooper of the Year holds the award for the second straight year, while one of the runners-up -- the regional winner for the Lawrenceburg district -- was honored for handling an incident that started in Bedford County. Dwayne Stanford of Henderson County was cited as Trooper of the Year by the Tennessee Highway Patrol after several significant events, including the arrest of suspects involved in armed robbery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possible terrorism, home invasions, and possession of stolen guns and stolen vehicles.. ...

USDA official slams horse groups hard (02/16/12)
A Department of Agriculture representative who enforces the Horse Protection Act had critical comments for the local equine industry this past weekend. Dr. Chester Gipson, Deputy Administrator for Animal Care with USDA-APHIS, met Saturday with members of the Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA) in Murfreesboro, telling members enforcement of the Act would be no different during the 2012 show season than it was last year...

Horse show gets $2.5K from city (02/10/12)
Shelbyville's city council voted Thursday night to donate $2,500 to the upcoming Spring Showcase horse show set for next month. The show, put on by the Foundation for the Advancement and Support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse (FAST), is to replace the void left by the departure of the National Trainer's Show from Shelbyville...

Appeals court agrees with 17-year sentence (02/10/12)
Tennessee's appeals court says a local judge made no mistake in sentencing a Bedford County man to 17 years in prison for selling crack. Larry Thomas Johnson had appealed his guilty-pleaded convictions for the sale of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine and possession with the intent to sell...

Futurity move may be costly (02/09/12)
Moving the Tennessee Walking Horse Futurity to Murfreesboro could end up costing horse owners who were hoping to qualify for the Celebration in August. On Saturday, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) announced that this year's Futurity will be held in July in conjunction with the World Versatility Show at MTSU's Miller Coliseum...

Futurity steps away (02/07/12)
The Tennessee Walking Horse Futurity will move to Murfreesboro this year. Formerly held on the first day of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in August, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) announced Saturday that its 2012 Futurity will be held in conjunction with the World Versatility Show, set for July 19-22 in Murfreesboro at Middle Tennessee State University's Tennessee Miller Coliseum...

State grants $52K for airport work (02/03/12)
Tennessee Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a grant of $52,200 towards $58,000 in engineering services to study taxiway repairs at Shelbyville Municipal Airport. City government will have to furnish only 10 percent of the budget, or $5,800...

Horse show rep asks council to donate $10K (02/02/12)
Shelbyville's city council will decide next week how much funding they will donate to an upcoming horse show. The Foundation for the Advancement and Support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse (FAST) has made a request for funding help for their Spring Showcase set for March 15-17 at Calsonic Arena...

New shows seek support (01/25/12)
There are a couple of new horse shows coming to Shelbyville, and organizers are looking for support from both the city and county. The Foundation for the Advancement and Support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse (FAST) will hold a Spring Showcase from March 15-17 at Calsonic Arena...

World-class care right here at home (01/20/12)
When it arrives, a diagnosis of cancer can be among the most devastating of news to a patient and their families. For local residents, the course of treatment has often meant weekly trips to nearby Murfreesboro or Nashville for chemotherapy. "I don't know what I would do if I had to drive to Nashville every week for treatments," said Chris Adams, who has been receiving treatment for lymphoma at Tennessee Oncology for the past four months. ...

Quake drill is critical (01/19/12)
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is encouraging schools, families and businesses to participate in an earthquake drill next month. Registration is open for the second annual Great Central U. S. ShakeOut earthquake drill, scheduled for Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m.. Last April, more than 3 million people in 11 states, including 250,000 Tennesseans, took part...

Winning play by Titan star (01/10/12)
There's no doubt that Tennessee Titan cornerback Cortland Finnegan loves Shelbyville. And for the hundreds of fans who showed up to meet him at a local restaurant on Saturday afternoon, Finnegan is now one of their favorite players, if not their favorite...

Legislators pleased with proposed new districts (01/06/12)
Both of Bedford County's incumbent state legislators say they're happy with their proposed new districts. Proposed district maps were announced Wednesday by the Republican majorities in each chamber of the General Assembly. They won't be official until voted on by the General Assembly, which re-convenes next week...

Flanagan moves on to TCOG (01/06/12)
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government (TCOG) has selected veteran journalist and founding board member Kent Flanagan as executive director for the non-profit organization. Flanagan has worked at the Times-Gazette since 2009 where he served in a variety of roles including editor, staff writer and photographer...

Equine equipment businesses merge, expand (12/28/11)
Three equine related businesses are joining forces to become the country's largest supplier of tack and apparel for gaited horses. The Winner's Circle Horse Supply, LLC of Shelbyville has announced an agreement to purchase the assets of gaited horse tack retailers World Champion Horse Equipment and National Bridle Shop...

Trainers' Show makes move (12/22/11)
The first big Tennessee Walking Horse show of 2012 won't be held in Shelbyville as in years past. A conference call was held earlier this week by the board of directors of the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) to prepare for the upcoming 2012 National Trainers' Show in White Pine, in Jefferson County, which is in east Tennessee...

TWH groups form unity committee (12/15/11)
Four groups representing the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry have selected members of a new "unity committee" that is to focus on the future of the business. Two weeks ago, the boards of directors of four industry groups -- the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA), Walking Horse Owners' Association (WHOA), Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) and The Celebration -- met and agreed to form the committee to discuss issues related to the future of the breed in the show ring, as well as unification within the performance horse division.. ...

MTEC highlights local college classes (12/07/11)
Middle Tennessee Education Center in Shelbyville is planning a regional marketing push this week with advertising inserts in six area newspapers, including today's Times-Gazette. MTEC, located in Bedford County Business Complex on Dover Street, is a joint venture of Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College, offering on-site day and night classes for the two institutions, as well as distance learning opportunities...

Celebration's Meadows to leave in '12 (12/02/11)
Dr. Doyle Meadows informed the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration board of directors earlier this week that he will step down as CEO at the end of October, 2012, following the 74th annual event. Meadows told the board at its annual planning meeting and sent a letter to the members of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association, the larger body from which board members are chosen...

Microchips: A pet's best friend (12/02/11)
Bedford County Animal Control and the Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic are teaming up in hopes to give your pet the ultimate Christmas present -- a sure way back hope in the event they stray too far. "Identification Station," as they're calling it, will be held Saturday, Dec. 17. From noon until 2 p.m. MTSNC will offer microchips for $25 and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. BCAC will have identification tags for your pets for $3...

TWH groups team up to fight change (12/01/11)
A "Unity Committee" will be formed to discuss issues related to the future of the Tennessee Walking Horse in the show ring and also to discuss unification within the performance horse division. However, the group objected to any reduction of pads and action devices for walking horses, also opposing proposed mandatory penalties by the Department of Agriculture (USDA)...

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